The Cook Islands football squad are eager to attend the OFC U19 Championship and will set off for Tahiti today. The competition starts on Wednesday September 7.

The U19 squad have been in training for months on end, gearing up for this tournament and have welcomed a few players from Aitutaki and overseas to complete their squad of 20 very skilled and talented Cook Islands footballers.

Team Cook Islands has been trained diligently by head coach Alan Taylor and assisted by assistant coach Tahiri Elikana. Head coach Taylor will unfortunately not be attending the tournament with the team, but has faith in his assistant coach Elikana to lead the team to Tahiti.

“I feel excited for the players, for football Cook Islands as this gives us an opportunity to showcase our way of football to the rest of Oceania” says Elikana.

Being put in Pool A with New Zealand, Solomon Islands and America Samoa, the Cook Islands side will aim to be on top of their game when on field as these upcoming fixtures will be testing. Elikana says “the preparation has been hard for the team but has focused around getting both physically and mentally”.

But the squad have been consistent with their eager attitudes and aim to give each of their opponent a game that challenges both their skills and thinking.

“All this will come down to each individual player displaying their passion, their will and their belief in themselves and what it means to be a national Cook Islands representative,” said Elikana.

Readying themselves for takeoff today, the management, coaches and players will be filled with nerves but will stand tall and patiently for what awaits them in Tahiti.  

– CIFA Media